French, Victor James Somerset

He was the son of Sir Somerset French, K.C.M.G., of Mayfield, Sussex, and came to Winchester from West Downs School. He was Head of his House his last year. “His contemporaries will not forget the skill and success with which he managed the House War Savings Bank.”

In May 1917 he entered Sandhurst and a year later was commissioned in the Irish Guards. He went to France on October 2nd 1918, to join the 1st Battalion, and eight days later went into action for the first time in command of a patrol of advanced scouts whose duty it was to follow up the retreating enemy. The same day, October 10th, he fell at Beauvais-en-Cambrensis, near Cambrai, shot between the eyes by a sniper from one of the houses on the outskirts of the town while leading his men on under heavy fire.